AMCAS Questions - Research Hours, LOR and MCAT

[Gokin]

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Hi all,

I am applying to MD/PhD programs through AMCAS this cycle, and there's a few issues that I'm unsure about. I would like some advice on them, if possible.

1. For MD/PhD programs, AMCAS requires you to list the # of significant research hours you've done. However, when I performed research at my current university, I did not regularly log my hours, as my projects were task-oriented (e.g., my PI would tell me "get this done by this week", etc). In turn, the # of hours I volunteered each week was highly variable. How am I supposed to calculate my total research hours in this case? Would it hurt my app if I estimated based on how much I remembered working?

2. Most of the programs I am applying to allow additional supporting LOR besides their requirements. I am satisfying the required LORs through my university's committee letter. Since I'm applying to MD/PhD programs, I would like to add LORs from the 2 PI's I worked for. However, one of the PI's likely already wrote about me in the committee letter (he sits on my university's pre-professional committee). Additionally, if I used the 2 LOR from my PI's, I would have no LOR from a healthcare professional. Would it be wiser to use a LOR from one of the physicians I shadowed instead of that PI's letter? How would this affect my application?

3. My reasons for pursuing medicine are closely related to my interest in an MD/PhD, so I feel that I should discuss it in my PS. However, would this be redundant since there's a separate MD/PhD essay?

4. How negatively would it affect my app this cycle if I pushed my MCAT back from June 28 to mid-late July?

Thanks.

 

[907914]

1) Literally everyone does this with research as it is so variable. Just underestimate and you will be good.

2) I would not have the repeat LOR from the PI likely in the committee letter. Do get the other one though. And find a healthcare professional if you wanna apply duke.

3) Don't think of it as redundancy, think of it as consistency. The PS should address the way in which research ties in to your pursuit of the MD and the MD/PhD essay should directly address the research itself.

4) Not too much if you are verified before taking the MCAT. Pick a dumper school and go from there.

 

[Beyonce2.0]

Regarding #3, I am also applying MD-PhD this cycle and the way I am approaching it is to 1) in the Why Medicine essay talk about what drew me to medicine and being a physician-scientist (my love for science plays a huge role in this but I don't talk about my research too much; instead I focus more on interpersonal aspects of medicine); 2) in the Why MD-PhD talk specifically about why both clinical work and research are important to me and what I see myself doing in a future career that includes both; 3) in the Significant Research experiences essay give all the specific details of the work I've done.

Hope that helps!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi all,

I am applying to MD/PhD programs through AMCAS this cycle, and there's a few issues that I'm unsure about. I would like some advice on them, if possible.

1. For MD/PhD programs, AMCAS requires you to list the # of significant research hours you've done. However, when I performed research at my current university, I did not regularly log my hours, as my projects were task-oriented (e.g., my PI would tell me "get this done by this week", etc). In turn, the # of hours I volunteered each week was highly variable. How am I supposed to calculate my total research hours in this case? Would it hurt my app if I estimated based on how much I remembered working?

1) Give your best good-faith estimate that your Contact (the PI) will agree with.

 

[Gokin]

Thank you all for your inputs. I have a couple more questions that I would appreciate answers to.

1. At this time, the only volunteer hours that I have were from the year I technically "graduated" high school (I duel-enrolled nearly full-time, and graduated HS with an associates before transferring to my current university; I racked up 100 non-clinical hours before transferring). While these hours would count as "high school" volunteer hours, would I still be able to list them in AMCAS since I was attending college?

2. Besides ~40 total hours of shadowing (from 2 clinics), I have no other clinical experience/clinical volunteering. I will soon be working as a hospice volunteer, but AMCAS submission opens in around 10 days. Should I delay submitting my application to rack up some hours, or should I just apply next cycle?

Thanks y'all.

 

[Catalystik]

1. At this time, the only volunteer hours that I have were from the year I technically "graduated" high school (I duel-enrolled nearly full-time, and graduated HS with an associates before transferring to my current university; I racked up 100 non-clinical hours before transferring). While these hours would count as "high school" volunteer hours, would I still be able to list them in AMCAS since I was attending college?

2. Besides ~40 total hours of shadowing (from 2 clinics), I have no other clinical experience/clinical volunteering. I will soon be working as a hospice volunteer, but AMCAS submission opens in around 10 days. Should I delay submitting my application to rack up some hours, or should I just apply next cycle?

1) Yes. They'd be considered college-related during the dual enrollment period, even though you hadn't yet graduated from HS. It's fine to list them. But having no nonmedical community service more recently would be a weakness in your application.

2) Extremely low clinical hours, despite good stats, is a common reason for a failed application cycle. And with active clinical experience, longevity is more important than total hours. About 1.5 years is the average listed. Applying with one or two or three months of patient interaction on your application is a very bad idea.

I encourage you to strongly consider delaying your application for another year so you can beef up your activities.

 

[Gokin]

1) Yes. They'd be considered college-related during the dual enrollment period, even though you hadn't yet graduated from HS. It's fine to list them. But having no nonmedical community service more recently would be a weakness in your application.

2) Extremely low clinical hours, despite good stats, is a common reason for a failed application cycle. And with active clinical experience, longevity is more important than total hours. About 1.5 years is the average listed. Applying with one or two or three months of patient interaction on your application is a very bad idea.

I encourage you to strongly consider delaying your application for another year so you can beef up your activities.

Thanks for your input. I'll definitely consider it. Just curious, if I happened to apply this cycle and didn't get in, how negatively would it affect my chances to be a re-applicant next cycle? Thanks.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks for your input. I'll definitely consider it. Just curious, if I happened to apply this cycle and didn't get in, how negatively would it affect my chances to be a re-applicant next cycle? Thanks.

Applying prematurely provides a huge hit to the wallet, one's time, and one's stress levels. Read gonnif's post about reapplicants and explore the links:

As many medical schools clearly say, most common mistake among reapplicants is applying again too soon. Many medical schools offer specific pages of advice for reapplicants, something I find few students look into (see several links below). These would be useful whether or not you are a specific reapplicant to that school or another school. The students who reapply too soon are those who have spent the current cycle hoping and waiting and find no success all the way into June and decide to immediately reapply without any enhancement of their current record or application. They just submit essentially the same application with the same record. And if you do again what you did before, it is likely you will get again what you did before. That is, no acceptance


Links to medical school reapplicant pages

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Reapplicants - Miller School of Medicine Admissions
Roughly 20% of the students who apply to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in any given year are reapplicants. Data that we have collected indicate they have a lower acceptance rate than do first time applicants

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Heath
http://www.med.wisc.edu/education/md/admissions/reapplying/31716
(emphasis in the original)
There should be significant improvements in your application before reapplying. This might mean not reapplying the very next year. The most common error made by reapplicants is that they submit their next application too soon.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine
The Ohio State University College of Medicine - Tips & Advice
To maximize the chances of giving off this perception, you must allow enough time before reapplying. This will undoubtedly be the hardest part of the process, but be patient; if you rush it, you may join the ranks of those who are applying for a third time.

University of Minnesota Medical School
Re-Applicant
Though you can submit a second application immediately after your first application, you may want to consider waiting a year if you feel you need more experiences that help you demonstrate the essential and desired qualities of an ideal medical student.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Reapplicants | Office of Admissions
http://www.med.unc.edu/admit/requirements/our-ideal-candidate/selection-criteria

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
http://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/admissions/re-applicants/

LSU Health Shreveport
Re-Applicants

University of Missouri
http://medicine.missouri.edu/admissions/nontraditional.html

East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine
Admissions | Brody School of Medicine Admissions | ECU

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC)
https://www.unthsc.edu/texas-colleg...ants-home/common-mistakes-made-by-applicants/

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
http://www.com.msu.edu/Admissions/Guidelines_For_Success/Reapplication.htm

 

[chlorocruorin]

3. Please state WHY you started the research in the first place in your PS. Don’t just focus on how it’s impacted your decision in becoming a doctor. An adcom of a T20 helped me write my PS. He said he hates when he reads files and sees all the research hours but doesn’t know why someone would do all that. They really wanna kno who u are